July 28 is World Hepatitis Day in recognition of the global fight against the inflammation of the liver, commonly caused by viral infection that is transmitted through contact with infected blood. Our News Analyst WYCLIFFE NJIRAGOMA reports how Hepatitis B and C, which can remain silent for years before causing liver failure or cancer, terrifies skilled frontline health workers at war with its devastating impacts:
Every day, healthcare workers take split-second risks for patients’ good.
From dressing wounds to inserting intravenous lines and treating jaundice, these tasks expose caregivers to possible infections, including hepatitis B.
To them, the question is not only how to save patients’ lives, but also not to risk their own.
The occupational health hazard is particularly high for clinicians who handle blood, needles and wounds, but many work with limited protective equipment.
Hepatitis B is a vaccine-preventable and standard precautions reduce transmission.
However, shortages of protective props and inconsistent vaccine access leave many frontline caregivers feeling exposed.
‘Fear fuels stigma’
Mwanza District Hospital hepatitis programme coordinator Tasungana Chiwala says clinicians sometimes hesitate treating patients with the blood-borne diseaase.
“The hesitancy grows, particularly where there is a high risk of exposure to blood or body fluids during procedures. The delay leaves some patients feeling stigmatised,” she says.
Chiwala partly attributes the fear to PPE shortage and gaps in hepatitis B vaccination.
“When PPEs, especially gloves and masks, have been in short supply, we prioritised high-risk procedures. Meanwhile, not all healthcare workers are fully vaccinated due to shortage of doses,” she says.
A study published on Springer Nature Link found that 25 out of 854 healthcare workers in Salima tested positive for hepatitis B, representing about three percent.
The findings linked all infections to caregiving roles, underscoring the need for routine screening and early treatment for frontline health workers.
The risk persists after exposure. Caregivers are supposed to get tested within 24 hours of high-risk exposure, but hepatitis haemoglobin is rarely available in districts and difficult to access in central hospitals.
“Inadequate PPE and inconsistent vaccination increase fear among healthcare workers, fuelling unintentional stigma and discrimination,” says Chiwala.
Research by the Malawi-Liverpool Wellcome Programme estimates that five percent of adults in the country have hepatitis B.
However, the findings show that screening and treatment remain limited. Additionally, diagnostic tools recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) are scarcely suited to African populations, potentially delaying disease detection and treatment.
For patients, stigma goes beyond the hospital.
In a YouTube video, a patient only identified as Patrick, bemoans being denied jobs and work permits abroad despite being healthy.
“I share my story to show that people living with hepatitis B can live healthy, productive lives and should be judged by their abilities rather than their diagnosis,” he says.
More gaps persist
Malawi has yet to introduce a universal hepatitis B birth-dose within 24 hours of delivery.
The gap exposes infected newborns to a 90 percent risk of developing chronic infection.
Preventive measures include expanded screening, adult vaccination for high-risk groups and stronger public education.
Essential props that protecting at-risk health workers from blood-related infections are part of the toolbox to safeguard selfless caregivers as well as patients, guaranteeing the latter quality care.
Minister of Health and Sanitation Madalitso Baloyi asked Malawians to know their hepatitis status, seek timely treatment and support efforts to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030.
In her World Hepatitis Day message, she said viral hepatitis remains a significant public health challenge, with many unaware of their status and at risk of developing liver damage or liver cancer.
Baloyi stated: “Many people are living with hepatitis without knowing their status.
“Early testing and treatment saves lives. Together we must break down the barriers that prevent people from accessing these essential services.”
